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Wonder Woman 2: Patty Jenkins Confirms Kristen Wiig as Cheetah

Wonder Woman 2 director Patty Jenkins has officially confirmed that Kristen Wiig is playing the sequel's main villain, Cheetah. The Oscar-nominated Wiig was reported as having entered talks for the Wonder Woman villain role near the end of last month. This was shortly after a separate report emerged, claiming that Cheetah would indeed serve as the primary antagonist in the Wonder Woman sequel.

Jenkins is returning to helm the second Wonder Woman movie after her work on the first installment, with Gal Gadot similarly reprising her role as Diana of Themyscira. Wonder Woman costars Chris Pine, Saïd Taghmaoui, and Ewen Bremner are reportedly lining up to return for the sequel too, though that has yet to be confirmed. That makes Wiig the second cast member to officially join the project, after Gadot.

It was Jenkins who confirmed the news about Wiig playing Cheetah, via a post to her verified Twitter account. You can read the post in full, below:

So excited to confirm the most thrilling news. Yes! It’s true! So incredibly lucky to welcome the sensationally talented Kristen Wiig to our Wonder Woman family. Can't wait to finally work with one of my favorites. And SO excited by what we have planned. #Cheetah!!! @GalGadotpic.twitter.com/Gn0jICiIAH

The Wonder Woman 2 screenplay by Geoff Johns and Dave Callaham (The Expendables, Godzilla) is based on a treatment that Jenkins helped write, and reportedly takes place during the Cold War circa the 1980s. It has further been reported that Wonder Woman 2 will feature the Barbara Ann Minerva version of Cheetah from the DC Comics universe. The character has served as the villain on the printed page since DC underwent its New 52 reboot back in 2011, though she was first introduced in 1987.

Emma Stone was reportedly offered the role of Cheetah before Wiig signed on, but passed on the Wonder Woman sequel - possibly because she is attached to star in Disney's live-action Cruella movie, which may start filming while Wonder Woman 2 is still in production. Wiig is best known for her comedy work, but has already shown her range with dramatic roles in films like The Skeleton Twins, The Martian, and even her small role in mother! last year. Wonder Woman 2 will thus give her the chance to show off her skills playing a complicated antihero too.

With filming on Wonder Woman 2 scheduled to begin in the UK this May, additional casting confirmations will be arriving within the next couple of months. The movie is expected to keep to that production timeline too, now that Warner Bros. is preparing Suicide Squad 2 to film in the UK in October, right after Wonder Woman 2 vacates their Leavesden studio. Keep it tuned to Screen Rant for more Wonder Woman 2 casting news in the meantime.